"A marvelous story," commented the earl, much interested. "And
Leoline seems to have as many lives as a cat! Who can she be - a
princess in disguise - eh, Ormiston?"
"She looks fit to be a princess, or anything else; but your
lordship knows as much about her, now, as I do."
"You say she was dressed as a bride - how came that?"
"Simply enough. She was to be married to-night, had she not
taken the plague instead."
"Married? Why, I thought you told me a few minutes ago she was
in love with Kingsley. It seems to me, Mr. Ormiston, your
remarks are a trifle inconsistent," said the earl, in a tone of
astonished displeasure.
"Nevertheless, they are all perfectly true. Mistress Leoline was
to be married, as I told you; but she was to marry to please her
friends, and not herself. She had been in the habit of watching
Kingsley go past her window; and the way she blushed, and went
through the other little motions, convinces me that his course of
true love will ran as smooth as this glassy river runs at
present."
"Kingsley is a lucky fellow. Will the discarded suitor have no
voice in the matter; or is he such a simpleton as to give her up
at a word?"
Ormiston laughed.
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